88 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Cambrian Association in 1865, and this is quoted, and an 

 imperfect figure given, by Fergusson in bis " Hude Stone 

 Monuments " (p. 158). 



To this account, which is not quite accurate, he adds 

 that from simple inspection it is evident that these cists 

 must at one time have been covered with earth, and if so, 

 thinks that so far as one example can go they would tend 

 to prove that the circular vallum at Avebury and many 

 other localities was a place for the deposit of bodies. He 

 remarks upon the two gaps or openings in the circle 

 opposite one another, as at Arbor Low and Penrith, but 

 suggests that they may have arisen from the removal of 

 cists. As the result of our examination we can state 

 definitely that that is not the case — the openings were 

 certainly left intentionally. 



Finally, the Manks Archaeological Commissioners in 

 their report to Sir Henry Loch in 1878 catalogued this 

 circle and recommended that a careful excavation should 

 be made. This recommendation we endeavoured to carry 

 out during August and September 1893, having first duly 

 obtained permission from the proprietor ; and although 

 we found that some parts at least had evidently been 

 formerly disturbed by irresponsible persons who have left 

 no record — probably early diggers for treasure without any 

 archaeological knowledge or interest — still we unearthed a 

 very j:>erfect series of eighteen cists, and some remains of 

 pottery and implements, and are now enabled to put on 

 record a detailed description of this, one of the most 

 interesting of ancient Manks monuments, and to draw 

 more certain deductions as to its age and purpose. 



Our general plan of the Meayll Hill (fig. 9), on the 

 scale of about 6 inches to the mile, shows the position of 

 the stone circle (A), the sites of the hut villages and the 

 lines of the ancient boundaries. 



